The Devils’ 2018 first round pick has signed his entry level deal with the team, General Manager Ray Shero announced today. Defenseman Ty Smith, selected 17th overall by New Jersey, has been inked for three years.
The 18-year-old (born March 24, 2000), lefty shot just completed his second season last year with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. According to the press release put out by the Devils, he had career highs in all statistical categories. He potted 14 goals and 59 assists for a total of 73 points in 69 games. He also had 30 penalty minutes and was a plus-44 plus/minus rating in those games. The press release also mentioned that “(h)is assist and point totals were the second highest in the WHL among rearguards.”
The press release says that in a February 23, 2018 game against the Prince George Cougars, Smith set a Spokane franchise record for points in a game with two goals and five assists. The Lloydminster, Alberta native also was named to the WHL’s Western Conference First All-Star Team and was the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, winning the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy, last season.
Smith represented Canada internationally at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where Canada won gold. He was captain of Canada’s IIHF U18 World Championship team that won that championship.
He also won a silver medal with Canada at the 2017 U17 WHC according to the press release and was also named to that tournament’s All-Star Team. According to Robert Murray, writing for the WHL’s official website, Smith also played in the 2018 Sport Chek World Junior Showcase that took place this summer in Kamloops, British Columbia. Murray said that he registered four assists in five games.
The press release goes back further in Smith’s hockey development, as it mentions that he played 2015-16 with the Lloydminster Midget AAA Bobcats and was named to the AMHL First All-Star team that year as well as being the league’s top defenseman. The Bobcats won the AMHL championship that year to boot.
Smith is 5′ 10″ and 170-pounds and will look to make an impact at this year’s training camp, as he did when he attended Devils developmental camp back in July.